I'm wondering how VAT on xmas gifts work. If my family sends me a bunch of winter gear and video games, with all tags removed of course, will I still have to pay VAT on them? Does customs/postal service open up every single package around xmas time?
What's the best way to get around this?
VAT on xmas gifts
-
smilesalot
- Posts: 567
- Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2005 12:30 pm
- Location: HEL
Re: VAT on xmas gifts
Yes they have the right to open everything, but if you say its your personal products your family is shipping to you its different. Thats one of the things I do is have my family open and unwrap all items, have them handle it, now its considered used 
.
It all depends on what the products are, Ive had them open all my packages no matter what time of year. Another option is if your family lists the value of the items lower than the products really are. Another good experience is when I recieved a package via UPS, they listed the shipped items as parts. I only paid half the VAT I was expecting to. Other Key words to use on the shipping label are promotional products, used products, or if you are, your family can write maahanmuuttaja.
Separate packages, and if the sum of the products are under 40€ then they usually dont stop it
I think I listed this before, I had some religious liturature and DVD's mixed with my products and as soon as the customs officer saw that he stopped searching through the box and I didnt pay any tax's.
smilesalot
This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it.
RW Emerson
.It all depends on what the products are, Ive had them open all my packages no matter what time of year. Another option is if your family lists the value of the items lower than the products really are. Another good experience is when I recieved a package via UPS, they listed the shipped items as parts. I only paid half the VAT I was expecting to. Other Key words to use on the shipping label are promotional products, used products, or if you are, your family can write maahanmuuttaja.
Separate packages, and if the sum of the products are under 40€ then they usually dont stop it
I think I listed this before, I had some religious liturature and DVD's mixed with my products and as soon as the customs officer saw that he stopped searching through the box and I didnt pay any tax's.
smilesalot
This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it.
RW Emerson